My Husband has the GRM IV

Ivaras · New User Joined: 10 Mar 2008 Posts: 4

Hi, My name is Ileana . My ordeal began Feb 12, 2008. I was called on the phone and told that my 43 year old husband who had just had a physical and was in perfect health had a seizure at work. He was rushed to the hospital and they discovered a tumor. On Feb 26 a biopsy was done and it was a GBM IV we were and still are devasted. That same day we did the gamma knife. Now on March 17 we will start the radiation and chemo.

My husband is very depressed, my kids haven't been told yet, they are 9 and 10.

We don't know what to expect, getting info from the internet is very depressing.

I try to keep up hope but it's hard.

I don't want him to die nor do I want him to suffer.

Ileana

brainman · Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 8:47 pm Post subject: Re: My Husband has the GRM IV

Oh Ileana, my heart breaks as I think about your husband and family hearing the devastating news Sad

. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.

Unfortunately, very few people live more than 2 years from the time they are first diagnosed with GBM IV. My mother, a lot older than your husband, died within 2 months of her diagnosis. However, she opted for no treatments.

If you read my story (links in my signature block) you will see that I have been fighting gliomas for a very long time. Mine was originally a grade II in 1992 but when it recurred in 2005, it was a grade III. I know that when or if it recurs again their is a high likelihood that it will be a grade IV.

Back in 1992 in had young children like you and your husband. In fact, my first seizure was on my son's 3rd birthday. Talk about running a bday party!! For me hearing that I had brain cancer ended my ability to hope for any future. Life ended that evening in the ER. I still struggle with depression but I also am bipolar with wild swings in emotions.

I have lived long enough to see my two daughters graduate from High School and if I live just a few more I will see my son do the same.

I do not know how long your husband still has to live. However, if I were him, I would use this time to prepare for the times when he is not around for his kids. I would buy a bunch of birthday cards and graduation cards and write one for each of my children. I would date the envelopes and give them to you for you to give to your children at the appropriate times. I would also make a bunch of short videos to tell them how sorry I was not to be with them on those important times. Oh, wedding and the birth of children too. Personally, reading the story of the birth of Jesus on Christmas morning has been a important family tradition. I would make a video of me reading that story too. The big danger facing your children is the sense of abandonment they might experience as time goes by. These things will help to let your children know that he left but did not forget them. Love lives well beyond death.

I am rabbling Smile

. I do hope your husband never needs to use any of the above.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

jenugl · Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 6:20 am Post subject: Re: My Husband has the GRM IV

Hi Ileana, I'm so sorry your husband has been diagnosed with this dreadful disease. My partner (45yrs young) was diagnosed in May 06 with right temporal GBMIV. He had a total resection operation, then radio and chemo and then 6mths of chemo (temodal). As of his last MRI there was still no sign of any tumour. Where abouts is your husbands tumour located? Is it reacting to treatment? I hope and pray that he can fight this for as long as possible. I know it's hard but you need to enjoy each and every day. Life is short for all of us and unfortunately even shorter for someone with this disease. My partner has a great sense of humour and a never say die attitude (which I believe plays a part in all things). I know we are lucky (if you can call it that) that he had a great start in this fight, having had the tumor removed, which gives him a slightly better chance of keeping this thing at bay for longer. My thoughts and prayers are with you all. Love Jen.
_________________
Love to all. Jen.
_____________________________

Partner of GBMIV survivor - so far.

http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=9502

Ivaras · New User Joined: 10 Mar 2008 Posts: 4

Hi Jen,

My husbands brain tumor is inoperable. They did the gamma knife on the 26 of Feb. Radiation and chemo starts now on Monday March 17 to be followed with 6 months of more chemo.

He is very depressed right now. We have two small children 9 & 10 and a business and he is worried about all that. We are trying to take care of everything now for the future.

I keep praying

Ileana

Aimster · Regular Joined: 03 Jan 2008 Posts: 38 Location: Nebraska

Ileana, I am so very sorry to hear of your husband's illness. My heart goes out to you and your family.
_________________
Amy (39)
*low-grade oligoastrocytoma in right frontal lobe, with 1p/19q codeletion and early anaplastic features (first observed Aug. 2007; diagnosed Jan. 2008)
*gross total resection July 2008 at Mayo Clinic
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=28526

ksplat · Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 8:25 pm Post subject: Re: My Husband has the GRM IV

Hello Ileana
I too am so sorry to hear of yr Husband's GBMIV diagnosis. This news is devastating to hear for any family. You have young children too which is so sad. This news is very difficult to cope with but you will find plenty of support, comfort, advice & love on this forum.
I am here because my 47yr young Bro - Mark, was diagnosed just over 1yr ago with an inoperable GBMIV. It is a R frontal lobe tumour on his brainstem & was only .5cm at diagnosis. He has subsequently had 4 debulking surgeries. His most recent one was a month ago where they placed Gliadel (chemo wafers x2) in the tumour bed. He has taken temodal for 12mth & tried radiotherapy early on last year.
Our Mark is a fighter & has such strength, to watch him go from a healthy, fit man to what he is now, has been a rollercoaster of trials & tribulations. Through Mark's illness we have gained our strength & inspiration.
May you be surrounded & blessed with God's love & supported with the love of yr family & friends.
My prayers & thoughts are with you.
Cheers, Aussie Angie.
_________________
Brother has GBMIV
Diagnosed Feb 07
46 Yrs young!
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=19227

"Without Faith We Have Nothing"

Ivaras · New User Joined: 10 Mar 2008 Posts: 4

Hi Angie,

Thank you for your support.

What does debilking mean?

Ileana

brainman · Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 9:46 am Post subject: Re: My Husband has the GRM IV

Ivaras, I think you either miss read or typed wrong but Angie said that Mark had a "debulking" surgery. That usually means that part of the tumor was removed. It is not usually used if it has been totally removed, just that a "bulk" of the tumor was removed.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

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